wow-inequalities/02-data/intermediate/wos_sample/9adbe6dd90ac17b926e3dcb68c07e79c-vasta-ellie-and-erd/info.yaml

abstract: 'The research presented in this paper emerges from the Immigrant Work

  Strategies and Networks Project. The project focused on the experiences

  of Ghanaian, Portuguese, Romanian, Turkish and British-born respondents

  (both male and female) in London, between 2004 and 2006, using

  questionnaires and in-depth interviews. In this article, our goal is to

  explore the role of imperfect information in the immigrant settlement

  process and destination society policies. More specifically, we examine

  the nature of information used in two interlinked processes: 1)

  information used by the destination society to debate, design, and

  implement policy; 2) information used by immigrants to develop work

  strategies. We aim to demonstrate that a great deal of information

  immigrants and the destination society utilise, in making their

  decisions, is often based on the generation, circulation and

  reproduction of myths. Although migration myths of destination society

  members and immigrants are often conflicting, they seem to be reproduced

  within a shared regime of myth-making. In an attempt to analyse the

  dynamics and inter-linkages of the myth-making regime, we offer two new

  concepts, i.e. ``hegemonic myths{''''} and ``opportunity myths{''''}. Our

  discussion on the construction and circulation of myths presents new

  opportunities to reinterpret the immigrant settlement process. We

  conclude that while hegemonic myths about migrants in the public arena

  are rarely affirmative, opportunity myths constructed by immigrants are

  far more complex. They can both reproduce inequalities or provide a

  basis for immigrant empowerment. Hegemonic myths, for example, have the

  potential to focus the debate on specific groups, or immigrants in

  general, where they can become either heroes or, more likely, villains.

  We argue that opportunity myths do play a major role in the perpetuation

  of migration to the UK. The inequalities and exploitation experienced by

  immigrants are essential in the circulation of opportunity myths as

  immigrants attempt to maintain impressions of the good life in the UK.

  Ironically, immigration myths, the erosion of social rights and ongoing

  discrimination contribute to the continual flow of incoming migrants. In

  other words, the more rights are eroded and the more difficult it

  becomes for immigrants to succeed, the more immigrants feel compelled to

  construct narratives of success. Unless migration policies deal with the

  right to work, social rights of immigrants and with the elimination of

  discrimination and racism, policy and public discourse are likely to

  lead to unintended results.'
affiliation: 'Vasta, E (Corresponding Author), Macquarie Univ, CRSI, N Ryde, NSW 2109,
  Australia.

  Vasta, Ellie, Macquarie Univ, CRSI, N Ryde, NSW 2109, Australia.

  Erdemir, Aykan, Middle E Tech Univ, Dept Sociol, TR-06531 Ankara, Turkey.'
author: Vasta, Ellie and Erdemir, Aykan
author-email: 'ellie.vasta@mq.edu.au

  aerdemir@metu.edu.tr'
author_list:
- family: Vasta
  given: Ellie
- family: Erdemir
  given: Aykan
da: '2023-09-28'
files: []
issn: 0013-9998
journal: ERDE
keywords: Myths; Myth-making; Immigrants; Employment; London
language: English
number: 1-2, SI
number-of-cited-references: '40'
pages: 15-29
papis_id: 6f0034c2b0dac7691ab952aeffe95b59
ref: Vasta2010workstrategies
times-cited: '1'
title: Work Strategies of Immigrants and the Construction and Circulation of Myths
  in London
type: article
unique-id: WOS:000284596000003
usage-count-last-180-days: '0'
usage-count-since-2013: '9'
volume: '141'
web-of-science-categories: Geography; Geography, Physical; Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
year: '2010'